NameCensus.

UK surname

Della

From the Italian word meaning "of the" or "from the", often indicating geographical origin.

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Della surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 109, ranked #29,402, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheltenham, Westminster and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Della is 127 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1111.1%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

109

2016, ranked #29,402

Peak year

2010

127 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Della had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016, ranked #29,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 29 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Della surname distribution map

The map shows where the Della surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Della surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Della over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 3 #32,890
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 29 #31,963
1901 historical 13 #32,633
1911 historical 26 #30,547
1997 modern 68 #30,810
1998 modern 77 #30,289
1999 modern 73 #30,856
2000 modern 69 #31,273
2001 modern 66 #31,394
2002 modern 72 #31,269
2003 modern 72 #31,281
2004 modern 77 #31,024
2005 modern 69 #32,007
2006 modern 82 #30,933
2007 modern 87 #30,666
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 98 #31,078
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 109 #29,402

Geography

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Where Dellas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheltenham, Westminster, Central Bedfordshire and Barnet. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheltenham 011 Cheltenham
2 Westminster 017 Westminster
3 Central Bedfordshire 029 Central Bedfordshire
4 Central Bedfordshire 025 Central Bedfordshire
5 Barnet 036 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Della

These lists show first names that appear often with the Della surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Della

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Della, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Della surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Della household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Della is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Della is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Della falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Della is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Della, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Della

The surname DELLA originated in Italy, where it first appeared in the 12th century as a descriptive surname derived from the Italian word "della," meaning "of the." This surname was initially given to individuals who lived near a particular location or landmark, such as a town, village, or geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DELLA can be found in a document from the city of Florence, dated 1214, which mentions a certain "Giovanni della Torre" (John of the Tower). This suggests that the name was likely associated with someone who lived near a prominent tower or fortified structure in that city.

In the 13th century, the DELLA surname appeared in various Italian regions, including Tuscany, Lombardy, and Veneto. It was often used in conjunction with place names, such as "della Valle" (of the Valley), "della Rocca" (of the Fortress), or "della Piazza" (of the Square).

One notable historical figure with the surname DELLA was Boccaccio della Puglia (1311-1375), an Italian writer and poet from Naples who authored several works, including the epic poem "La Teseide." Another famous bearer of the name was Pietro della Valle (1586-1652), an Italian traveler and writer who documented his journeys through Asia and the Middle East.

In the 15th century, the DELLA surname gained prominence with the rise of the powerful Della Rovere family, which produced two Popes – Sixtus IV (1414-1484) and Julius II (1443-1513). Their family name derived from the Italian town of Rovere, meaning "of the Oak Tree."

Other historical figures with the surname DELLA include Benedetto della Vedova (1600-1675), an Italian painter known for his religious works, and Gioacchino della Chiesa (1836-1908), an Italian military officer and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Italy from 1908 to 1909.

Throughout its history, the surname DELLA has been subject to various spelling variations, including Delle, Delli, and Dello, reflecting regional dialects and the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier times. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained unchanged, tracing its roots back to the descriptive Italian term "della," denoting one's association with a particular place or locale.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Della families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Della surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 9 Dellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 9 10.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Botolph Bishopsgate in Middlesex leads with 4 Dellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
St Botolph Bishopsgate 4 3333.33x
Chelsea London 1 37.88x
Kensington London 1 20.53x
Laleham 1 5000.00x
St Pancras London 1 14.18x
Tottenham 1 71.43x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Della surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Catherine 2
Alice 1
Elizabeth 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Della surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Della households.

FAQ

Della surname: questions and answers

How common was the Della surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Della surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Della surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016. That gives Della a modern rank of #29,402.

What does the Della surname mean?

From the Italian word meaning "of the" or "from the", often indicating geographical origin.

What does the Della map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Della bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.